1.In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?” We are in New York City in the present time. The play suggests that we are in the 70s or 80s, basically around the time the play was written. Honestly, it can be set depending on what the director wants to set the play. It can very easily be in the 2000s, 2010, or even the 1990s. The same themes of the play persist today. We start off in the night when we are introduced to Val and Willis ( for a short amount of time ), and we are in the 28th street at night. We get a sense of tension and thrill at first and with added humor that sets the mood of the play. 2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is. The intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken is when Val kills Willis. This to me is what lingers on for the rest of the play and is an overall obstacle for Val that prevents him from getting what he wants. 3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? The events take place at a time when social tensions are high amongst African Americans and Whites in relations to the police. These events could have easily happened in any point in US history post-1966. 4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) Will Val admit to himself that he murdered a man with no true reason and move on with his life? Will Val and Alea’s relationship mend from the murder? Will they be in a healthy, equal relationship?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters. Val wants erase the past on what he did to Willis. You can argue also that he wants to go back in time and not have shot Willis to begin with. The main obstacle that is getting in his way is me vs myself for he lives with the conscience of the grave mistake he made on taking a man’s life away. Also, me vs. the law for he technically murdered a man which is has societal consequences on his reputation as well as his own view of himself although he severely denies it at first.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second. The most theatrical moment for me was when Val confronts Alea about him murdering Willis. This is something that, to me, was deemed to happen but not in the particular scene that it happened. The tension was climatical therefore making this a scene that had the roughest roller coaster ride, for me at least. 7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) The gun represents the past of no return for Val. It serves as also a foreshadow for the audience almost expects something to happen within the first scene. 8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second. The truth will finds its way out someday. Learn to forgive yourself, it will only make time heal. The past is in the past and learn to live on.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second? There are two kinds of family in this case. A occupational and a marriage. We see that these types of relationships are very typical is American families families see them both everyday, usually. In this case, they both show their love for each other in transparent way. You cannot easily see it, but it exists in the atmosphere. Ultimately, both families want what is best for each other.
We are in New York City in the present time. The play suggests that we are in the 70s or 80s, basically around the time the play was written. Honestly, it can be set depending on what the director wants to set the play. It can very easily be in the 2000s, 2010, or even the 1990s. The same themes of the play persist today. We start off in the night when we are introduced to Val and Willis ( for a short amount of time ), and we are in the 28th street at night. We get a sense of tension and thrill at first and with added humor that sets the mood of the play.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken is when Val kills Willis. This to me is what lingers on for the rest of the play and is an overall obstacle for Val that prevents him from getting what he wants.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The events take place at a time when social tensions are high amongst African Americans and Whites in relations to the police. These events could have easily happened in any point in US history post-1966.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val admit to himself that he murdered a man with no true reason and move on with his life? Will Val and Alea’s relationship mend from the murder? Will they be in a healthy, equal relationship?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
Val wants erase the past on what he did to Willis. You can argue also that he wants to go back in time and not have shot Willis to begin with. The main obstacle that is getting in his way is me vs myself for he lives with the conscience of the grave mistake he made on taking a man’s life away. Also, me vs. the law for he technically murdered a man which is has societal consequences on his reputation as well as his own view of himself although he severely denies it at first.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment for me was when Val confronts Alea about him murdering Willis. This is something that, to me, was deemed to happen but not in the particular scene that it happened. The tension was climatical therefore making this a scene that had the roughest roller coaster ride, for me at least.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The gun represents the past of no return for Val. It serves as also a foreshadow for the audience almost expects something to happen within the first scene.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
The truth will finds its way out someday. Learn to forgive yourself, it will only make time heal. The past is in the past and learn to live on.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
There are two kinds of family in this case. A occupational and a marriage. We see that these types of relationships are very typical is American families families see them both everyday, usually. In this case, they both show their love for each other in transparent way. You cannot easily see it, but it exists in the atmosphere. Ultimately, both families want what is best for each other.